Plant support



Dec. 16, 1941. H. J. MORAN PLANT SUPPORT Filed Jan. 28, 1939 PatentedDec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to supports for shubbery.

One of the disadvantages experienced by growers of shrubbery during thegrowing season, is the tendency of the shrub or plant to sag due to theadditional weight of blossoms or berries or the like. Under theseconditions the shrub assumes an ungainly or unsightly appearance andvery often suffers damage due to excess bending. One of the importantobjects of my invention is the provision of a support which willovercome this disadvantage and by which the plant may be .safelyconfined and more advantageously displayed.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a supportwhich may be easily and quickly applied or removed as conditionsrequire.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a supportof the above character which is simple of construction, cheap inmanufacture and efficient in operation.

Further and additional objects of my invention will become apparent fromthe following specifications.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like thoughts throughoutthe same.

Figure 1 is a plan View of m invention illustrating its operation inconnection with a rose bush.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of my invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of the same showing a part of the elements intheir operative position.

Figure 4 is a plan view of my invention illustrating the method ofoperation, and

Figure 5 is a top view of one of the elements of my invention shown incross section.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l0 designates avertical shaft or upright adapted to be driven or otherwise imbedded inthe ground near the plant 7 or shrub to be supported as illustrated bythe numeral I l in Figure 1. While I have illustrated the shaft or postas four-sided and being of wood it is of course understood that it maybe of iron, concrete or any rigid material. The length of the shaft orpost is determined by the height and character of the shrub inconnection with which it is intended to be used.

Secured to the shaft III as by screw threads I! or by other properexpedient appropriate to the material of which the shaft is composed,are a plurality of hook like members l3. Referring in particular toFigure 4, the hooks l3 are positioned with respect to the post and toeach other as to form four separated units, each of the units beingcomposed of two hooks disposed on opposite sides of the post and onapproximately the same plane. The openings l4 between the post and hooksof each unit are faced in the same direction and opposite the loop I5,hereinafter described, When such loop is in engagement with the hooks asbetter illustrated in Figure 2.

The loops or flexible elements it: are preferably of a fibrous materialsuch as hemp, cotton rope or the like, as it has been found that suchfibrous material is less injurious to the plants or shrubbery with whichit comes into contact. It has also been found that hard rubber or otherrelatively smooth material impregnated with a resinous substance may beused to a good advantage. The length of the loop or flexible element ispredetermined by the siZe and character of the shrub to be supported.Attached to each end of the flexible element l5 by means of screwthreads I6 is an eye I]. The sleeve l8 illustrated in Figures 4 and 5operates to compress the material at the end of the flexible elementthus furnishing a better foundation for the screw eye.

In operation, the flexible element is looped about a portion of the bushon one side of the upright and the eyes at each end of the element arerespectively brought into engagement with the corresponding facing hooksof the appropriate unit. The weight of the branches confined within theloop tends to urge the element outwardly from the shaft, thetension thuscreated providing a more secure engagement of the eyes with the hooks.The several hook units are disposed on different planes with respect tothe shaft toavoid binding or interference between the loops.

While I have illustratedthe use of four loops and four correspondinghook units it will of course be understood that under certain conditionssome of such elements may be dispensed with. It will further beunderstood that if conditions warrant, a larger number of groups or setsof hook units and corresponding loops may be disposed at variousintervals throughout the length of the shaft.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A four-sided support for plants and shrubs comprising a verticalshaft,'a plurality of hook units attached to said shaft in difierentplanes and extending from all four sides thereof, each of said hookunits comprising two open hooks disposed uponopposite sides of saidshaft and in the same plane with and. facing eachother, and a pluralityof relatively smooth flexible elements of predetermined length eachhaving an eye secured at each end thereof adapted to detachably engagethe corresponding hooks of the respec tive units.

HENRY J. MORAN.

